36 POULTRY 
and tapped with the poker or shaker, to 
make certain that it shall not become clogged 
up, as frequently happens if the operator is 
careless or ignorant. It will be well to have 
a metal cap four or five inches above the top 
of the chimney to keep out direct rains or 
storms. 
Management of Stove. A half ton of 
coal is usually sufficient to carry through 
each brood of chicks. This may be placed 
in the brooder house at any time that is con- 
venient. Each house should be equipped 
with its own shaker, poker, and fire shovel. 
When the ashes are shaken down from the 
stove the pan containing them should be 
placed on the dropping board and allowed 
to become cold. Then they should be 
dumped on the floor of the brooder house. 
Chickens like coal ashes and the ashes are 
good for them. This may look like care- 
lessness or negligence on the part of the 
operator, but it really is good practice. 
When the chicks cease to need heat, the 
stove can be taken down, thoroughly cleaned 
out, painted with some stove paint, and set 
on a shelf on the wall of the brooder house, 
